Musical instrument



Oct. 29, "1940. H, N, WHITE 2,219,434

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1939 //v VE/V TOR: HENDERSON N WH/TE Patented o r. 29,1940

PATENT OFFICE 2,219,434 I MUSICAL INSTRUMENT nememnmwmtesaeus, Ohimalsiinorto 'lhcllwhitecompannclcyemohiqa corporation of Ohio 5pm February as, me, Serial No. 25am Claims. (o1. u-m) This invention relates as indicated to musical instruments, but has reference more particularly to wind instruments, such as flutes and clarinets. especially to the bodies of such instruments and to a method of making the same.

It has heretofore been proposed to make the bodies of wind instruments, such as clarinets. and flutes, from tubes of an alloy such as nickel (German) silver. Such an alloy, while possessing strength and the ability to be stamped and drawn into shape, has not been found to be entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of tonal qualities, resonance and playability.

I have found that the tonal qualities, resonance, l5 brilliancy and playability of such instruments may be greatly increased, without appreciable decrease in the strength of the body or the ability to stamp or punch holes therein, by the simple expedient of making a body, comprising a nickelsilver tube lined with a tube of relatively pure silver, such as sterling silver.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, illustrating the first step in the manufacture of a clarinet or flute body in accordance with the invention; d

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the second step in the manufacture of the body; 35 and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the complete flute or clarinet body.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the first step in the manufacture of the bell consists 49 in placing a tube l, of sterling silver, on a mandrel 2 and then drawing the mandrel and tube through a die 3, which is similar to a wire drawing die, and as a' result of which the tube l is considerably elongated and the walls thereof re- 45 duced in thickness to nearly the thickness desired in the final body.

The second operation consists in placing a tube 4, of nickel silver, on the tube I and mandrel 2, and in then drawing the assemblage of tubes and 0 mandrel through a die 5, similar to the die 3, and as a result of which, the tube 4 is considerably elongated and the wall thickness thereof appreciably reduced. In this operation, the tube I is also further elongated and reduced somewhat in to wall thickness, so that the tubes l and l are firmly and intimately united to each other, forming in effect, a single tube.

. 'Upon removal of the mandrel, the body of the instrument will appear as in Fig. 3, consisting of an outer wall I, of nickel silver, of a thickness of approximately .028" and an inner wall or lining I, of sterling silver, of a'thickness of approximately .014". In other words, for best results,

it has been found that the outer wall should be 0 approximately twice the thickness of the inner 1 wall.

A flute or clarinet constructed in accordance with the foregoing description, has been found to have greater resonance and brilliancy of tone u than an instrument in which the body is formed wholly of nickel silver. Moreover, it is easier to play, being less difilcult to blow for the production of tones of the same pitch. At the same time, the strength of the body is not appreciably reduced, and the body can be easily punched or stamped for the various holes required in instruments of this type.

Although the instrument body has been described as preferably made of nickel silver and sterling silver, good results have also been attained where the outer wall of the tube is made of other metals and alloys, as for example, brass. Moreover, the inner wall may be made' of other pure or elementary metals of relatively high density, as for example, gold and platinum, although the use of these metals, due to their high cost, is virtually out of consideration in the manufacture of musical instruments.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention, herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn metal other than silver and an inner wall of drawn silver.

2. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn nickel silver and an inner wall of drawn silver.

3. A tubular musical instrument body comprising a wall of drawn nickel silver and a lining of drawn silver, said wall being approximately twice as thick as said lining.

4. A tubular musical instrument body comprising a wall of drawn nickel silver about .028" thick and a lining of drawn silver about .Olt"

thick.

5. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer drawn wall of an alloy metal and an inner drawn wall of an elementary metal of relatively high density, said walls being in pressed fit contact with each other throughout their length.

6. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn nickel silver and an inner wall of drawn gold.

7. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn nickel silver and an inner wall of drawn platinum.

8. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn nickel silver and an inner wall of drawn silver, said walls being in contiguity with each other throughout their length.

9. A tubular musical instrument body comprising an outer wall of drawn nickel silver and an inner wall of drawn silver, said walls being in pressed fit contact with each'other throughout their length.

mmmsorq N. WHITE. 

